The University of Missouri Extension Council of Butler County will elect five people for two-year terms, according to Extension Engagement Specialist Jennifer Williams.
Eleven candidates have filed for the terms. Voting will begin Sunday at the University of Missouri Extension Center and online at http://extension.missouri.edu/butler and will continue through Jan. 21.
There will be an opportunity for voters to cast ballots at the University of Missouri Extension booth during Ag Connect on Friday, Jan. 20, and Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Black River Coliseum. Ballots must be received at the University of Missouri Extension Center by Jan. 20 to be counted.
Voting-age residents of Butler County may select any five of the nominees listed. The ballot accompanying the article may be used and mailed or taken to the Butler County University of Missouri Extension Center, 614 Lindsay Ave., Suite 3, Poplar Bluff.
Council members are volunteers responsible for maintaining the extension center at 614 Lindsay Ave., Suite 3 and for planning programs with the professional and paraprofessional faculty and staff in Butler County.
According to Extension Council Chair Lanny Corcimigilia, county and regional specialists and paraprofessionals for the University of Missouri System provide educational programs to Butler County citizens in several areas. Programs are available in the fields of agriculture, family and consumer sciences, 4-H youth development, family and community education clubs, and food and nutrition programs for youth and low-income families.
The 11 candidates are Jo Ann Brandon, Natalie Butler, Melody Dolle-Ducote, Murray Hammond, Kurt Humphrey, Austin Kirby, Emily LeMaster, David Leonard, Judy Lunsford, BriAnne Riggins and Toni Stoner.
The following information was provided by the candidates:
Brandon is a second-term candidate, who said, she “wished to share her wonderful experiences during her first term.” Brandon chaired the Meet Your Extension Committee which is responsible for exposing the community to what extension has to offer. She helped coordinate the planning of community events. These events have a lot of moving parts, but her team made it happen. Being a part of this committee allowed the office to provide the public information that can make major, impactful changes in their lives. As vice president, in her second year, she looked forward to accomplishing the items on the wish list and continuing to form partnerships in communities that serve more populations. Brandon received two awards during this term, but says her real reward is being a part of the council that reveals what Missouri Extension is to Butler County. Brandon attends Lively Stone Church of God where she is the adult Sunday School Teacher. She also is the chairperson for Women of Purpose.
Butler is a 2007 graduate of Poplar Bluff High School. After graduation, she traveled with her husband, Kenneth, as he spent time in the army as a military police officer. Although she got to spend time in amazing places like Hawaii, she returned home to Poplar Bluff in 2018. Butler and her husband of 15 years have two children together, Gabriel, 13, and Elena, 10, and five pets including three dogs (Miesha, Piper and Rocky), one lizard (Spike) and one cat (Meow meow). Butler and her family love to spend time outdoors in local parks and trails. When she isn’t at work or hiking the trails, you can find her at her children’s soccer games where she has previously assisted in coaching their teams. Butler currently works at FosterAdopt Connect and has been there for over three and a half years. She started serving foster and adoptive families through their Sammy’s Window program and has transitioned this year to a new role helping aged-out foster youth through the Community Connections Youth Project. This a huge passion for Butler as she is an adoptee herself. She works with the most at-risk youth assisting them in housing, employment, mental health and more.
Melody Dolle-Ducote is the residence opportunity and self-sufficiency coordinator for the Poplar Bluff Housing Authority. She is secretary for the Poplar Bluff Non-Profit Alliance, and member of Westside Church. Dolle-Ducote volunteers with Hearts for Rescue and Westside Church. She graduated from Tarkio College in Tarkio, Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Communication/Education and has continued memberships in the following Tarkio College Alumni groups: Tau Kappa Epsilon Rho Iota Chapter and Kappa Gamma Chi. Dolle-Ducote’s interests include photography, animal rescue and children. She has three children, Meredith of Sarasota, Florida, Nicholas of Dallas, Texas and William of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She loves working with community partners to help housing residents achieve their goals. The size of the goal may seem impossible to them but sitting down with her and mapping out a road to success is fulfilling for the residents as well as Dolle-Ducote. Community partners make this possible. She was born and raised in Poplar Bluff and is a PBHS graduate.
Hammond has been the horticulturist for the Poplar Bluff Parks Department for more than five years. He enjoys working with children, teaching them about gardening and how great it is to be outdoors. Hammond also likes to teach them about native plants and invasive species that are killing out the native plants. His hobbies include gardening and interior and exterior home design. He has raised animals, including chickens and pigeons.
Humphrey was born and raised in Poplar Bluff. He attended high school at Neelyville. After high school, he played college baseball at Three Rivers College and then obtained a pre-med biology bachelor’s degree with a minor in chemistry at Arkansas State University. For the past 10 years he has been an employee benefits consultant and helped area businesses develop health, dental, vision and life insurance plans for their employees. He raises livestock and runs a rental property business. Humphrey has two children, Easton Humphrey and Madison O’Connor. He enjoys hunting, fishing and anything outdoors, but his biggest enjoyment comes from helping others.
Kirby is a DAV Veterans Service Officer. He is the senior vice commander for DAV Ken Sisler Chapter 47 in Dexter, Missouri. Kirby is a member of the PB Gun Club and a member of the Poplar Bluff Elks Lodge. Kirby has been married, he said, “to his wonderful wife Kristy for eight years” and has four children, two daughters, one son and a stepson. Kirby has four grandchildren, three boys and according to him “a precious little girl.” He has become a novice model railroad enthusiast and enjoys spending time at the Frisco Depot learning about trains. Kirby is an advocate for veteran rights and benefits. He enjoys hunting and fishing anytime he can get outdoors and he loves being a dad and grandpa.
LeMaster is the administrator at Northside Nutrition Center. Prior to becoming the administrator, she worked for MU Extension, teaching health and nutrition for three and a half years in Butler, Carter and Ripley counties. LeMaster says, “MU Extension will always hold a very special place in her heart.” She is married to Brent LeMaster and they have two sons, Evan and Benson. She is active in Bread Shed and is on the group’s board, LeMaster has been Northside administrator since June of 2022 and it’s becoming her passion to provide a warm meal and a smile, as well as checking on the well-being of the senior citizens who they serve in Butler County.
Leonard is a district technician for the Butler County Soil and Water Conservation District. He coaches kids’ baseball. Leonard is assisting MU Extension with Ag Connect. He does information education with local schools about soil erosion. Leonard is an SCMCAA Policy Council Board Member representing the Neelyville Center.
Lunsford has been married to Ken Lunsford going on eight years. They have a blended family of three children, Tenia and Steve Hermann, Teddy and Samantha Porch, Michael and Jayne Lunsford and Lunsford said, “five wonderful grandchildren, Serenity and Stetson Porch, Lane, Katilyn and Madilyn Lunsford. Family is their life. The grandkids keep them on the run.” Lunsford is on the Board of Directors for Ozark Border Electric Coop. They attend Fellowship General Baptist Church religiously. Judy worked for Aldi Foods for 20 years. Both Ken and Judy have lived and worked on livestock farms. Lunsford says nothing is better than country life, especially when you have horses for relaxation. If elected, Lunsford said, she “will do her best to serve the community.”
Riggins is a registered dietitian, who works with the John J. Pershing Food Pantry. She attends Fellowship General Baptist Church. She currently is treasurer for the Butler County Extension Council.
Stoner is an LPN at the John J Pershing VAMC. She is a member of the Poplar Bluff Eastern Star, previous president of the Poplar Bluff Altrusa Club, previous vice president of the Shrinettes organization and current president of the VA Employee Association.